Electric rail-bond



(No Model.) V

A W. H. WIGGIN.

ELECTRIC RAIL BOND.

' No.562,107. PatentedJune16',189 6.

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NITEI) STATES PATENT Frien ELECTRIC RAIL-BOND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,107, dated June 16, 1896. Application at August 28,1895fi Serial No. 560,749. (No model.)

To all w/wm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H.WIGGIN, of the city and county of \Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Bail- Bonds; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings,formin g a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents the abutting ends of two railroad-rails with my improved bond applied thereto.' Fig. 2 represents, upon an enlarged scale, a transverse section through the rail-flange and a longitudinal section through my improved bond device applied thereto preparatory to being fastened-therein, as hereinafter described. The following figures are also upon the same enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a similar View to that shown in Fig. .2, with the bond driven tight and fastened in position. Fig. 4 represents detached views of the parts composing my improved bond; and Figs. 5 and 6 show modifications in the construction thereof, which will be hereinafter described.

Myinvention relates to rail-bonds used for obtaining an electrical connection between one rail and another for electric railroads, and the purpose thereof is to produce a railbond which shall have a flexible connection between the two bond ends which are attached to the rail-flanges.

Said invention consists of two metal pieces, one at each end of the bond, a wire rope or similar connection connectingsaid end pieces, and two collars, one for each rail-flange, the bond being effected by fitting said collars into the rail-flanges, driving the end pieces therein byhammering on suitable heads with which they are provided, and expanding the ends of said metal pieces to hold the parts in position, said pieces being provided with central longitudinal openings at the ends to facilitate the latter operation, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that others may better understand the nature and purpose of my said invention, I will now proceed to describe it more in detail.

Referring to the drawings, A B represent the abutting ends of the two railroad-rails previously alluded to, O the joint between said two rails, and D myimproved bond, consisting of the collars a a, metal pieces I) b, and wire rope, or similar flexible connection 0. The collars a a are made cylindrical shaped upon the outside where they fit into the railflange A, and preferably tunnel-shaped upon the inside, the ends I) b of the metal pieces Z) I) also being preferably made cone-shaped to fit therein, so as to obtain a closer connection when the latter are driven into the collars, as is indicated in Fig. 3, although I reserve the right to make boththe inside of tho collars and said metal pieces cylindrical in shape at said points, as shown in Fig. 6, if preferred. I also reserve the right to make the collars and metal pieces of round shape in cross-section, square, as shown in Fig. 5, or any other suitable shape, in carrying out the principle of my invention in practice. I prefer, however, for obvious reasons to make the same round, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings.

The collars a a are preferably each provided with an annular rim or collar a at their driving ends to form a stop to govern the distance to which theyare to be driven, and also to hold the same longitudinally when the metal pieces I) I) are driven into the same; but I do not limit myself thereto, as theyare not absolutely essential to the practical carrying out of my invention.

The metal pieces Z) Z) are each made in the form of a plug, with an arm Z) extending out substantially at right angles from their base ends to form. a connection with the wire rope or other flexible connection 0, and thereby also forming a shoulder or striking-point b upon which to hammerin driving said metal pieces longitudinally into the collars a a. The ends of the wire rope may be fastened to the metal pieces I) Z) in any well-known way, preferably by brazing the same into suitable openings in the arms I) of said metal pieces.

The ends of the metal pieces b l) opposite from their striking-points are each provided with suitable longitudinal openings b into which a suitable tool may be inserted, (after the metal pieces have been driven into posi- 'tion,) and said ends expanded, as is shown in Figs. 3 and 6, to securely hold the same from longitudinal motion in the collars. By said construction it is obvious that while the tunnel shape of the collars and the cone shape of the metal pieces, as previously described, are preferable, as a very tight and secure joint between the parts is thus obtained, said shapes are not absolutely essential, as with a tight cylindrical fit between the parts, when thus held longitudinally, a very good bond connection is obtained.

It will at once be apparent to those skilled in-the art to which my invention appertains that a rail-bond made in accordance with said invention is simple in construction, easily and quickly applied, and when applied admits of the movement or jarring of either rail with which the bond is connected without in the least afiecting or impairing the bond connection between one rail and the other.

I am aware that other rail-bonds having connection with the rail-flanges of a similar nature to the one herein described have been patented and are in use, but I am not aware that such a connection has heretofore been constructed and applied in a like manner to this: that is, combined with a flexible con nection between the two ends, prior to my invention. I therefore limit said invention to the specific construction herein set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An electric rail-bond comprising a flexible bond-wire consisting of a wire rope or other flexible material a metal piece attached to each end thereof, each having a shoulder whereby it maybe driven longitudinally into a collar fitted in the rail-flange, and also provided with a longitudinal opening at the opposite end from said shoulder for the purpose described, and said collars, one for each end of the bond adapted to fit in said rail-flange and to receive said metal pieces, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the rail-flanges having suitable transverse openings therein, with a rail-bond, consisting of the collars a, a, one for each end of the bond and adapted to fit in said openings, said collars also being made tunnel-shaped upon the inside and each provided with an annular flange or rim on one end; the metal pieces Z), 7), made cone-shaped to fit the collars, each provided with a shoulder whereby they may be driven longitudinally into said collars, also provided with a 1aterally-projecting arm for connection with the wire-rope connection a and with a longitudinal opening in the ends oppositefrom the aforesaid shoulders, and said wire-rope connection 0, attached at each end to said metal pieces, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

\VILLIAM l-I. \VIG srlN.

Vitnesses:

A. A. BARKER, (l. Fonnnsr WnssoN. 

